Yes, we have a young team and Rodgers has plenty of years of playing left. But if we don't get back to the SB, this year or possibly next. It is going to get extremely difficult. The reason, being is money. Once Matthews, Raji, and more important Rodgers, we are going to have so much less room under the cap for the rest of the roster. Look at Rodgers and Brees, 17+million cap number for Brees, <10million for Rodgers. 7 million dollars difference, That is easily money to retain or upgrade 3 or 4 other positions.

Rodgers has been heard saying, how much is enough. The big question is, what will he say when it is payday. How much pressure will the NFLPA put on him to max out for the next guy.

That is why, I think Ted needs to go all-in for a year or even 2. It can be done, without destroying the future. It would be hard to find 6 or 7 roster spots for rookies. We could afford to move up this year and come away with 3 or 4 higher quality picks. We could afford to spend short term. Talk with Jennings and pay a little more than Packers normally, and a little less than he would want, in order to shoot for a title. Maybe go after Jenks or another FA that fills a need along either or both lines.

We are in position, to do some of those things and come out the other side, still with youth and depth. In a couple years, those options are going to be much harder to attempt.

The salary cap will start expanding again after 2015 or something like that.

The players union took all the salary cap expansion for the next few years up front to make it seem like they had a better deal than they did.

Doesn't really matter what the cap is. It is more about how much of it is tied up in few players. We have had success recently because we were not paying the high end contracts that we are going to have shortly. When they are done, we won't be able to afford the quality depth we have had the benefit of having.

The salary cap will start expanding again after 2015 or something like that.

The players union took all the salary cap expansion for the next few years up front to make it seem like they had a better deal than they did.

They made it so it'd go up more evenly throughout the years, from what I read (can't remember the source). If they hadn't done that, the cap would've actually gone down in 2012, before jumping up millions in 2015.

Anyway, I don't think we should go all-out on player spending right now, especially not on a just decent talent like Jennings, but I would like to trade up quite a bit and get some impact players in the draft. It's the affordable way of being aggressive, yet, not as expensive as signing big FAs.

We have amazing depth and we should retain that, while not stocking up on even more 6th, 7th round projects. At least, not for a year. Of course, you'll have to go back to your old strategy sooner or later or you'll be depleted of depth in a year or three, but for one year, just trade up and finish the draft with a pick or 5.

Anyway, that said, I don't think we're in as much trouble as you think we are. Even if you have a lot of money tied up in your QB position, you're still contending. Look at the Broncos, the Patriots, the Steelers... Of course you have to work around that contract at times, but it's very much possible. Even if you have to let a big name guy go from time to time.

For example, we could open up some cap space right now by letting Bishop and/or Hawk go and having Jones and Williams start... A blow to our defense, yes, but one that you can play around and doesn't hit us that hard, because of the depth we have.

Of course, I do agree with you that it'll become rather hard when 3 of your players count for 40 million dollars against the cap. I'm still hoping that Rodgers will feel a bit generous when his contract comes up and that that thinking gets to the other guys, as well, but let's be real here... These guys like to get paid and they don't owe the Packers anything, really.

I don't think the window is closing, I just think that the Pack have to play it even smarter.

The Window is not closing. Though I do agree the team is solid enough right now that trading up for better players wouldn't hurt. The thing with that is you can't do it just to do it the right player has to be there to trade up for. I don't see Jennings taking "a little less" to come back to GB though, to me he sounds perfectly fine with playing to any other team. He is likely going to whoever gives him the most money, period.

The window has closed already. Missing out on 2011 and 2012, that was the window for this regime. I think Mike McCarthy needs a fresh start somewhere else. The team is no longer respecting him, starting with his QB.

"I do not think there is any thrill that can go through the human heart like that felt by the inventor as he sees some creation of the brain unfolding to success... such emotions make a man forget food, sleep, friends, love, everything." - Nikola Tesla

The window has closed already. Missing out on 2011 and 2012, that was the window for this regime. I think Mike McCarthy needs a fresh start somewhere else. The team is no longer respecting him, starting with his QB.

I don't think McCarthy has lost his team. I think he just needs to adjust a bit - play down the pass and play up the run. Play a tougher game. That starts up front offensively with your line. we were manhadled against top pass rushing lines because we were too often in pass blocking sets - highly predictable.

I also believe our losses to injury have really hurt us more than anything. That, and our depth defensively up front killed us. We had no legit starting DE. Save Perry, we had no one opposite Matthews, and Perry was just learning the position and was lost early. Losing Collins, Jenkins and Bishop killed us, and we've yet to find quality replacements.

Give Capers the players he needs for his D to be effective, along with a more punishing offense, and I like our chances. A big back and some OL adjustments would certainly help.

Yes, we have a young team and Rodgers has plenty of years of playing left. But if we don't get back to the SB, this year or possibly next. It is going to get extremely difficult. The reason, being is money. Once Matthews, Raji, and more important Rodgers, we are going to have so much less room under the cap for the rest of the roster. Look at Rodgers and Brees, 17+million cap number for Brees, <10million for Rodgers. 7 million dollars difference, That is easily money to retain or upgrade 3 or 4 other positions.

Rodgers has been heard saying, how much is enough. The big question is, what will he say when it is payday. How much pressure will the NFLPA put on him to max out for the next guy.

That is why, I think Ted needs to go all-in for a year or even 2. It can be done, without destroying the future. It would be hard to find 6 or 7 roster spots for rookies. We could afford to move up this year and come away with 3 or 4 higher quality picks. We could afford to spend short term. Talk with Jennings and pay a little more than Packers normally, and a little less than he would want, in order to shoot for a title. Maybe go after Jenks or another FA that fills a need along either or both lines.

We are in position, to do some of those things and come out the other side, still with youth and depth. In a couple years, those options are going to be much harder to attempt.

While I would certainly like to see more willingness to make mid-season free agent purchases (and not just when we don't have enough bodies left to fill roster spots), we've gotten a number of starting-quality players out of the last draft and I have no doubt that we will see at least one, probably two players out of this coming draft in a starting role and at least two more in a backup role right off the bat. If Ted weren't such a draft genius, he'd deserve to be run out of town on a rail - but that's the cornerstone of his team building philosophy.

I don't think McCarthy has lost his team. I think he just needs to adjust a bit - play down the pass and play up the run. Play a tougher game. That starts up front offensively with your line. we were manhadled against top pass rushing lines because we were too often in pass blocking sets - highly predictable.

I also believe our losses to injury have really hurt us more than anything. That, and our depth defensively up front killed us. We had no legit starting DE. Save Perry, we had no one opposite Matthews, and Perry was just learning the position and was lost early. Losing Collins, Jenkins and Bishop killed us, and we've yet to find quality replacements.

Give Capers the players he needs for his D to be effective, along with a more punishing offense, and I like our chances. A big back and some OL adjustments would certainly help.

You may want to check with Kevin, I think he was being a little facetious with his comment.

I agree the window is closing, but not very much at this point. Rodgers should have another five or so good years and I think that is a key. If he keeps getting sacked around 50 times a years like last year it could slam shut any time. If they surround him with good players where he is protected and get results it could stay open longer. TT's solid drafts can keep us contenders but a couple of pro bowl type draftees or free agents could put us over the hump. Granted, that's much easier said than done at our position draft wise and cap wise.

I agree the window is closing, but not very much at this point. Rodgers should have another five or so good years and I think that is a key. If he keeps getting sacked around 50 times a years like last year it could slam shut any time. If they surround him with good players where he is protected and get results it could stay open longer. TT's solid drafts can keep us contenders but a couple of pro bowl type draftees or free agents could put us over the hump. Granted, that's much easier said than done at our position draft wise and cap wise.

We need an OLB opposite Clay.

Be nice to see BJ Coleman come along too. Imagine being able to win even if Aaron went down.

“Winning is not a sometime thing, it is an all the time thing. You don't do things right once in a while…you do them right all the time.”

Who wouldn't want Mike McCarthy as a head coach on their team? The man has great passion for the game, you see it on the sidelines every game. And he's a hell of a Offensive Guru and a awesome QB mentor. It's hard to think this team doesn't like him. 74-38 Record speaks for itself.

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